Bunbury man David Beggs avoids jail after violent fight with brother, spitting in cop’s face during arrest

A 23-year-old Bunbury man has been given an opportunity to do right by his family after avoiding jail for his violent attack on his brother and later spitting in a female police officer’s face. David Beggs appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Friday via video link from Bunbury Regional Prison and he received a 15-month jail term that was suspended for a year. The court was told Beggs and his brother were at their family home in Withers on October 15 when he borrowed his brother’s phone. After he was confronted about using the phone Beggs, who had been drinking throughout the day with a friend, became irate and smashed the Samsung Galaxy phone on the kitchen counter before the pair fought. During the fight, which was broken up several times by other family members, Beggs threw a television to the ground, damaging it, and later threw his brother’s Xbox gaming console at his head, hitting him and a wall. After putting his brother in a headlock and punching him several times they were separated but the fight did not stop there. Beggs went to the kitchen and produced two knives, holding one up to his brother’s neck threatening to stab him. Despite being separated a second time Beggs continued assaulting his brother, grabbing him by the throat and choking him and gouging at his eyes until they were separated once again. When police arrived at the property Beggs was aggressive with the arresting officers and spat in the face of a female officer while he was being led from the house in handcuffs. In submissions Beggs’ duty lawyer Alex Collins told the court Beggs had a limited recollection of the incident due to his high level of intoxication at the time of offending but had begun taking steps to try to make amends with his family. Although a restraining order had been put in place to protect his brother, the court was told Beggs had maintained contact with his father. It was conceded it could take Beggs years to achieve full reconciliation with his family for his actions. Beggs had engaged in counselling during the three months he spent in custody on remand. Police prosecutor Sgt Darren Clifton said it was “disgraceful and disgusting” for Beggs to spit in a police officer’s face, noting the potential for disease transmission, and labelled his attack on his brother as a “sustained” one. In sentencing, Magistrate Benjamin Tyers agreed Beggs’ offending was a “sustained and violent attack that went well beyond ordinary scuffles between brothers”. Mr Tyers also described Beggs’ spitting as a “despicable act” before handing down the conditionally suspended jail term. As part of the suspended jail term Beggs was ordered to take part in supervision and program requirements and pay more than $1500 in compensation for damaging his brother’s property.